Canadian Studies Announcements

In this issue:

 Happy Thanksgiving to Our American Friends! 

Dear Friends,

This month, it’s our turn in the United States to celebrate Thanksgiving. Here in Berkeley, we’ll be taking a well-deserved break to spend time with our loved ones and reconnect. The pandemic continues to inject uncertainty into an otherwise joyful time, and prompts us to make challenging decisions. For many of us, this Thanksgiving will be our first family gathering in almost two years. Others will choose to continue celebrating a scaled-down, intimate holiday. Whatever your decision, we wish you and yours a happy and safe holiday.

November is also National Native American Heritage Month, commemorated federally since 1990. Traditional representations of the “First Thanksgiving” often fail to capture the complexity of our history, and flatten the cultural richness of America’s Native tribes. We encourage you to take a moment this holiday to reflect on the original inhabitants on this land, many of whom continue to live on both sides of the modern US-Canadian border. The National Museum of the American Indian offers tools to help families celebrate the holidays in a spirit of truth and understanding.

To all our friends in Berkeley, the Bay Area and across the United States and beyond – have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Irene Bloemraad

Program Director

UPCOMING EVENT

Hildebrand Graduate Research Showcase

December 7 | 12:30 pm | Online | RSVP here

Learn about the research Canadian Studies funds through our Edward Hildebrand Graduate Research Fellowships, as recipients present short overviews of their projects. Participating scholars are below; RSVP to canada@berkeley.edu.

Caylee Hong, Ph.D. can., Anthropology

“Orphaned Wells: The Impact of Corporate Bankruptcy on Energy Infrastructures and Municipal Futures”

Mass bankruptcies of energy companies have “orphaned” thousands of oil and gas wells across Canada and the United States in recent years. Without solvent owners to plug and decommission them, such wells pose serious environmental, financial, and health and safety concerns, especially in urban areas. Caylee examines the ways that cities and their residents grapple with these oil and gas wells in their midst. In this talk, Caylee will draw upon her comparative research from several diverse urban environments in British Columbia, Alberta, and California.

Sophie Major, Ph.D. can., Energy & Resources Group

“Indigenous Political Theory of First Nations People in British Columbia”

Sophie’s research examines the marginalization of Indigenous people and Indigenous knowledge in political theory discourses and asks if and how political theorists ought to engage with Indigenous political thought. Incorporating original ethnographic work with First Nations peoples in British Columbia, Canada, Sophie’s dissertation introduces a number of case studies, illustrating the strengths of an ethnographic, historicist, genealogical, and interpretive approach to the study of Indigenous political theory.

IN THE NEWS

PM Trudeau Meets With President Biden to Advance US-Canadian Partnership

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a two-day trip to Washington, DC last week, where he met with US president Biden and other leaders of the American government. Trudeau’s visit was part of the North American Leaders’ Summit, which also included Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The meetings, which the PM’s office described as “productive“, focused on strengthening diplomatic ties among all three countries and advancing other regional priorities. Key points discussed included increasing global vaccine distribution; fighting climate change; and enacting a proposal to protect up to one-third of North America’s lands and seas within the next ten years.

In a private meeting with president Biden after the summit, both leaders hailed the special closeness of the US-Canada relationship as they discussed a blueprint for a stronger bilateral partnership. They expressed common interests in supporting North American workers and industries, as well as in reducing emissions and growing clean energy opportunities. Trudeau also met with US congressional leadership, where he expressed appreciation for America’s support for Canada in recent diplomatic incidents and again stressed the importance of closer economic cooperation.

EXTERNAL EVENTS

Canadian Brass: Making Spirits Bright for 50 Years and Counting

December 11 | 8 pm | Zellerbach Hall | Buy tickets

For half a century, the lighthearted but seriously virtuosic Canadian Brass has been luring listeners of all ages to the rich, exciting, exuberant sound of brass music. The Grammy-winning quintet, with more than 100 recordings to its name, has charmed audiences from Moscow and Beijing to Boston and Tokyo, playing a dizzying range of repertoire including music of the Baroque, Dixieland, Broadway, and John Philip Sousa.

This very special holiday program features originals like “Bach’s Bells”; favorite songs such as “White Christmas,” “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and “Christmas Time Is Here”; and familiar classical, choral, and popular music arranged to make brass instruments sing.

Canadian Studies Program

213 Moses Hall #2308

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